• Purchase a chimney brush and a hard scrub brush.  You will need both of these in order to clean your chimney effectively.

• Make sure that you have a flashlight ready to go when you begin the cleaning process.  This will help you determine if there are any obstacles in your chimney like birds nests.

• Put on old clothes when you start cleaning.  This really will be a messy job and there is no way around it.  You do not want to ruin any good clothes.

• Wear a face mask as well as goggles so that you are not breathing in harmful chemicals. This will also help ensure that you are not getting anything in your eyes.

• Wear gloves.  You may be handling metal and it may be very sharp.  You do not want to cut yourself so gloves will really help you.

• Have a ladder ready to go because you will need to get on your roof in order to clean that end of the chimney.

Following these tips will help you clean your chimney with ease.  You will find that this can be a really big chore but when you are prepared it goes much faster.

Plumbing Repair Tools

Tools you’ll need for plumbing repairs include some that are part of your homeowner toolbox collection and some you may want to add to it. Among the basic tools that you should have on hand are Standard/Phillips screwdrivers for faucet screws, adjustable and open-end wrenches for nuts and bolts, and rib-joint pliers to remove some fixtures. You may also need a set of Allen wrenches for setscrews and a hacksaw blade to cut off any rusted on bolts.

 Additional plumbing tools fall into three categories: Drain-clearing tools, Wrenches and Job-specific tools.

Drain-Clearing Tools: These three tolls are used to clear plumbing clogs, like hair clogs, in fixtures and drains:

1. Plunger: A plunger uses exchangeable pressure and suction to unclog drains and plumbing fixtures. The funnel cup types are intended for toilets, but it can fold flat for drains as well.
2. Snake: A snake, drain and trap auger, comes available in lengths from 10-75 feet. The snake stretches into a drain and clears deep clogs within pipes. By locking the snake’s thumbscrew and tuning the handle will drive the corkscrew-like tip into the clog and releasing the blockage.
3. Closet Auger: A closet auger is designed especially for toilets; it’s bent into the toilet’s trap.

Wrenches: You may need some addition wrenches then what you have that are specialized for plumbing:

1. Spud Wrenches: With its wide, smooth jaws, this wrench is useful for unfastening extra large nuts and fixtures on sinks and toilets.
2. Pipe Wrenches: With serrated jaws for gripping fittings and galvanized or cat-iron pipe. Use them in pairs on pipes. One wrench holds one section of pipe as the other turns the pipe or fitting.
3. Basin Wrenches: With its long handle you can reach out-of-the-way couplings and nuts. Its jaws allow you to tighten or lessen nuts as well.

Job-Specific Tools: Certain jobs call for very specialized tools:

1. Valve-Seat Wrenches: And valve-seat dresser is tools you will need for compression faucets. A valve-seat has both a hexagonal and a square end to remove valve seats. A valve-seat dresser cleans corroded seats and smoothes pitted non-removable seats.
2. Deep-Socket Wrenches: This wrench will remove the hard-to-reach packing nut on a tub or faucet.

Adjustable Wrenches: Adjustable wrenches are a must have for any home owner’s toolbox. A 6, 8, and 10 inch length should meet most of your household needs. To use an adjustable wrench, open the wrench all the way and then place over the item to be tightened or loosen. Seat the head all the way into the jaws and tighten the jaws.  Always turn an adjustable wrench toward the direction of wrenches adjustable jaw.

Types of Wrenches

Fixed-end Wrenches: Fixed-end wrenches can handle tons of pressure, but you must have the right size that exactly matches the fastener’s head. These wrenches come in box-end, open-end, or combination styles.

Ratchet Wrenches: A ratchet wrench with interchangeable sockets does what fixed-end wrenches do, but does the job a lot faster. For each turn you make on the lever of the handle, it reverses the turning direction of the socket on the nut or bolt.

Allen Wrenches: To loosen a set screw use an Allen wrench. Make sure to perches a set that includes a range of sizes. When using an Allen wrench make sure to tighten by hand only. Don’t use pliers to apply any pressure to turning the Allen wrench.

Blow is a list tools every home owner should have in their toolbox. Take an inventory of the tools you already have and their condition, if any of the tools mentioned below are missing or damaged you should consider replacing them. Buy the best you can afford. Quality tools make the job easier and are safer than bargain tools. For one-time repairs you can rent power or specialty hand tools.

Fastening tools like nails and screws, with material like adhesives are items you may want to keep handy. A range of sizes for fasteners and washers come handy when you need to make those minor repairs.